Atomizing nozzle



Dec. 16, 1952 c. M. SLIEPCEVICH 2,621,976

ATOMIZING NOZZLE:

Filed Jan. 3, 1949 y z! I INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 16, 1952 ATOMIZING NOZZLE Cedomir M. Sliepcevich, AnnArbor, Mich., as-

signor to Kask Technical Corporation, Jackson Heights, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application January 3, 1949, Serial No. 68,819

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to nozzles for atomizing liquids.Particularly in one aspect this invention relates to such nozzles inwhich a vibrating member is employed to bring about the desired degreeof atomization.

In the commercial atomizing nozzles on the market today in whichpressure alone is employed as the atomizing force as contrasted withthose in which a gas under pressure is used as the propelling anddisruptive agency, the atomization of the liquid is produced bysubjecting it to a whirling action before ejecting it from an orifice ofthe desired shape and size. The whirling motion is imparted to theliquid by passing it under pressure through a chamber of specialconstruction. All of the nozzles of this type are inherently ineflicientbecause of the pressure drop caused by the absorption of energy as fluidfriction when the liquid traverses the nozzle chamber.

It is an object of the present invention to produce an atomizing nozzleof a design radically diiferent from that discussed above in whichenergy losses due to fluid friction are in a large part eliminated.

It is a further object of this invention to produce an atomizing nozzlein which a much lower fiuid pressure is required to obtain a certaindegree of atomization than is the case with the presently-known types ofatomizing nozzles.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an atomizingnozzle of relatively simple and compact construction having asubstantially greater capacity than those presently in use.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide an atomizingnozzle which will operate eiiiciently and bring about a fine degree ofatomization of a liquid by using only the force supplied by the liquidunder pressure.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thedetailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the followingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 of the drawing is a front elevational view, partly incross-section, of the device of this invention in which atomization iseffected through multiple orifices in a body portion by a vibratingvalve member.

Figure 2 of the drawing is the same view as Figure 1 with the vibratingmember in a different position to more clearly show the orifices. Onlya. small portion of the body portion of the device in Figure 2 is incross-section.

Referring to the drawing, numeral designates a cylindrical body portionhaving an upper chamber [6 and a lower chamber 20 therein. A

solid plug ll having a slot l2 in the top thereof and threaded at I3 isinserted in a threaded upper portion I4 of chamber l6. Plug H is screwedinto the desired position by means of a screw driver or the likeinserted in slot I2. A cylindrical helical spring l5 is positionedwithin chamber 16 with one end pressing against the bottom of plug H andthe other end pressing against a valve member I! comprising a circularbeveled disk. The beveled bottom edge of valve member l1 rests onshoulder l8 between chambers l6 and 20.

In the lower portion of chamber l6 adjacent valve member ll, a pluralityof orifices l9 are spaced circumferentially around body portion ill in aplane perpendicular to the axis thereof. In Figure 2, valve member I! ismoved upward thereby more clearly showing orifices 19. The adjacentsides of chamber 16 and valve member H are machine finished so thatvalve member l1 will move freely longitudinally in chamber 5 without theleakage of liquid from chamber 20 to chamber It.

The lower position of chamber 20 of body portion 10 is threaded toreceive threaded end 2| of a conduit 22 transmitting liquid underpressure to chamber 20.

Although the cross-section of body portion I0, chambers I6 and 20, plugII and valve member I! are shown as circular, they may be other shapessuch as oval, polygonal, etc., without departing from the scope of thisinvention. A conical helical spring or other conventional spring may beused in place of the spring [5 shown, if desired. The dimensions of thevarious parts of the nozzle will depend on such factors as the capacityand the liquid pressure employed. The diameter of orifices I9 usuallyranges from about 0.005 to about of an inch, but larger or smallerdiameter orifices may be used without departing from the scope of thisinvention. The number of orifices may range from several to as many asor 100, preferably at least 12 orifices are employed. For example, anozzle having a one inch diameter chamber, a inch thick valve member and16 orifices of about &4 inch diameter has shown satisfactory results andrelatively large capacities.

In operation, liquid under pressure, usually 25 to 1000 pounds persquare inch gage, is supplied to chamber 20 through conduit 22. Theforce of spring I5 is adjusted by means of plug H such that at theconstant pressure of liquid supplied to chamber 20 valve member I! isforced upward slightly in chamber 5 to open orifices [9, as shown inFigure 2. As orifices l9 are opened and.

liquid sprays therethrough, the pressure is decreased slightly allowingvalve member I l to seat on shoulder l8, as shown in Figure 1, thusclosing orifices I 9 and stopping the fiow of liquid therethrough. Thevibration of valve member I! causes the liquid to issue from orifices l9as a fine spray. In order for valve member I! to vibrate, the liquidpressure, the size and number of orifices, the size of the valve memberand the strength of the spring are adjusted to obtain a balanced system.

The orifices may be positioned in only one half of the periphery of thebody portion thus directing the spray. The orifices may be grouped so asto spray in two or more directions at once. Two or more rows of orificesmay also be spaced around the circumference of body portion withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention. The orifices may beangularly drilled through body portion thus giving the spray issuingfrom the nozzle an upward or downward direction as desired. Any desiredangle or spacing of the orifice may be employed to give the desiredconfiguration to the resulting spray. In one modification, the orificesmay be drilled in converging angles so that the spray issuing fromseveral orifices impinge upon each other.

Spring 15 may be replaced by any resilient material, but a metal springis preferred. For example, chamber may contain a gas under pressurewhich gas has the desired degree of compressibility in order to maintainvalve member I! in vibration.

Valve member ll may also be vibrated by either mechanical or electricalmeans without departing from the scope of this invention. In stillanother modification, a liquid or gas medium may be maintained inchamber I6 at a pressure sufiicient to balance the force of liquid inchamber 20 and valve member ll' vibrated by pulsating the fluid pressureof the fiuid in chamber [8. In this modification, a conduit is usedleading. to a liquid or gas pulsating mechanism such as a pump or likemeans.

Both a compressible fiuid and a spring may be used together to vibratevalve member ll. Also mechanical means may be used to augment thenatural vibrations of the system as shown.

The mechanical spring may be positioned within chamber 29 upstream oforifices l9, if desired. In this manner of operation, the force urgingvalve member I? toward orifices i9 and seating it in shoulder I3 isobtained by the tension of a spring having one end attached to valvemember I! and the other end attached to body portion 19 or othersuitable support in chamber 20.

From a structural standpoint, the cross-section of orifices l9 arecircular, but the shape may be other than circular without departingfrom the scope of this invention. In place of shoulder I8 spikes or pegsmay be employed, upon which valve member [1 may seat. Shoulder l8 actsprimarily as a stop to prevent valve member I! from being pushed too farinto chamber 20 by decreases in pressure in chamber 20. In operation andwhen the system is in balance valve member I! may not rest on shoulder[8 at all.

Various alterations and modifications of the nozzle illustrated, such asthe size and shape of the orifices and the valve member, may becomeapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope ofthis invention. Various uses of the nozzle and its principle ofoperation are contemplated such as for the use in humidification,emulsification, milk spraying, spray drying, fuel injection, spraypainting, powder metallurgy, surface cooling, fire extinguishing,distillation, etc. The vibrating principle of the nozzle in atomizingliquids has its obvious application as an integral part of equipment andappliances, such as, oil burners, internal combustion engines, fireextinguishers, etc. In any of these instances the nozzle portion of theapparatus is defined by the various associated parts necessary toproduce a vibrating action of the valve member, the result of whichvibrating action liquid is atomized in passing through the multiple setof orifices.

It is understood that the essence of the present invention is theemployment of a vibrating valve member and multiple orifices spacedcircumferentially in the body portion of the nozzle for atomizing aliquid, and it is realized that there are many available ways other thanthose specifically disclosed herein for bringing about the desiredresults.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An atomizing nozzle comprising a body portion having a chamberapproximately one inch diameter therein and 16 orifices of about 6,;inch in diameter spaced ciroumferentially around said cylindricalchamber of said body portion in a plane perpendicular to the axisthereof, a valve member comprising a circular disk about inch inthickness closing said orifices and seated on a shoulder in said chamberof said body portion, said shoulder being positioned below and adjacentsaid orifices, and a helical spring positioned in said chamber urgingsaid valve member towards said shoulder.

2. An atomizing nozzle comprisin a body portion having a cylindricalchamber therein and at east 12 orifices of from about 0.005 to about 'fgth of an inch in diameter spaced circumferentially around saidcylindrical chamber of said body portion in a plane perpendicular to theaxis thereof, a valve member comprising a circular disk machine fit tothe inside diameter of said cylindrical chamber and closing saidorifices and seated on a shoulder in said chamber of said body portion,said shoulder being positioned below and adjacent said orifices, and aspring positioned in said chamber urging said valve member towards saidshoulder.

3. An atomizing nozzle comprising a body portion having a cylindricalchamber therein and at least several orifices spaced circumferentiallyaround said cylindrical chamber of said body portion in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, a valve membercomprising a circular cisk machine fit to the inside diameter of saidcylindrical chamber and seated on a shoulder in said chamber of saidbody portion, said shoulder being positioned below and adjacent saidorifices, the position of said valve member when seated on said shoulderbeing such that said valve member closes said orifices, and a springpositioned in said chamber urging said valve member towards saidshoulder.

CEDOMIR. M. SLIEPCEVICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,515,664 Dunkelberger Nov. 18;1924 1,735,490 Barley Nov. 12, 1929 2,310,984 Mock et a1 Feb. 16, 19432,420,550 Miller May 13, 1947

